Repair link



May 23,1939. B. E. BARNES f Re. 21,093

REPAIR LINK Original Filed Oct. 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l May 23-, 1939; v E, BARNES Ree 21,093

' 1 REPAIR LIN-K I Original Filed Oct. 28', 193.5 2. Sheets-Sheet 2' Reissued May 23, 1939 PATENT OFFHCE REPAIR LINK Brown E. Barnes, Portland, Oreg., assignor to Electric Steel Foundry Company,

Oreg.

Portland,

Original No. 2,116,875, dated May 10, 1938, Serial No. 47,086, October 28, 1935.

Application for reissue August 9, 1938, Serial No. 223,996

4 Claims.

This invention relatesgenerally to chains, and particularly to a repair link therefor.

The main object of this invention is the construction of a repair link which can be easily inserted into a chain as a replacement part in a minimum amount of time and with the use of ordinary tools.

The second object is the construction of a repair link which will not detract from the flexibil- U ity of a chain.

The third object is the construction of a repair link which will not present objectionable projections when assembled.

The fourth object is the construction of a repair link in which the fastening rivets will not be placed under stress and that the link will not be objectionably affected by wear more than an ordinary solid link would be.

I accomplish these and other objects in the manner set forth in the following specification as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the link showing a part broken away in section.

Figure 2 is an edge elevation of a link showing a fragment of an adjacent link and showing the fastening means.

Figure 3 is also an edge elevation taken from the opposite side of the link and showing the closure.

Figure 4 is a section taken along the line 4-4 in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section taken along the line 55 in Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary View showing a modified fastening means.

Figure '7 is a side elevation of a modified form of the link with a part broken away in section.

Figure 8 is an edge elevation of the link shown in Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a section taken along the line 9-9 in Figure '7.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9, but showing a modified form of fastener.

Similar numbers of reference refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring in detail to the drawings, there is shown in Figures 1 to 6 a link having a closed side II and the backwardly turned ends I2 whose tips I3 are sufiiciently far apart to easily admit a standard link I4. Each tip I3 is provided with a straight outer side I5 from which projects outwardly a lug I6. The straight sides I5 are provided with shields I! at their outer end to prevent material from wedging between the straight sides l5 and the connection part about to be described.

The side I I is provided with an opening I8 into which extends the shank I9 of the T-bar 20, whose upper end 2| constitutes the closure for the open side of the link. The tips 22 of the end 2! are rounded to conform with the contour of the link. The tips 22 are provided with slots 23 to receive the lugs IS. A rivet 2 5 extends through the side I I and through the opening 25 in the T-b-ar 2D. In the form of the device shown in Figure 6, instead of employing a rivet 24, the slot 26 has its sides 21 flared and the T-bar 28 is split to form the two points 29 which are spread against the sides 21.

In the form of the device shown in Figure 7, the link has one closed side 38 and the two inturned ends 3|, whose tips 32 are spaced :to receive a gate 33 whose end 34 constitutes the closure side of the link. The tips 35 of the end 34 are provided with slots 36 to receive the shanks 3! of the inturned ends 3|. The shanks 37 may be tack-welded or riveted as desired.

It will be noted that in this form of the device, the gate 33 is not tied to the side 3| as in the first described form of the device, dependence being placed upon the welding or riveting of the shanks 31 within the slots 36.

In the form of the device shown in Figure 10, the fastening is made by spreading the shank 38 into a correspondingly flared opening 39, the i shank 38 being a part of the inturned end 3IA, and the opening 39 being formed in the tips 35-A.

It can be seen that in the use of this device for the purpose of replacing a broken link in a chain, it is only necessary to insert the two links 14 and then put the T-bar 20 in position, as shown in Figure 1, and then drive the rivet 24. It follows that any strain on the chain will place the member 2| in tension and the only function of the rivet 24 is to prevent the T-bar 23 from leaving its position. Under ordinary conditions the link ends l2 are suflicient to carry the load, and any excess load will simply place the member 2| in tension.

In the form of the device shown in Figure 7, the same condition exists except that the welding or riveting on the shanks 31 takes the place of the rivet 24 in the first described form of the device.

It is desirable to make the sides it somewhat inclined toward the opening between the tips I3, first to insure a tight fit at the tips 22 and second to offset any distortions which may arise during the casting process which frequently tends to bend the tips I3 outwardly.

It must be understood that numerous forms of repair links have been constructed in the past, most of which, however, are objectionable on account of their irregular shape as compared with the chained links themselves or that the repair link is weakened by placing the strains upon the rivets. I, therefore, am not claiming links broadly, but I do intend to cover all such forms or modifications thereof that fall fairly within the appended claims.

Having now described my invention and in what manner the same may be used, what I claim as new and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

1. A repair link of the class described having one slotted straight side and having two rounded ends, the tips of which face each other in spaced relationship to form an opening opposite said slotted side, the outer faces of said tips having lugs projecting therefrom in parallelism with each other, a. closure for said opening consisting of a T-shaped member, the shank of which extends through the space between said tips into said slotted side, means for securing said shank to said slotted side, the cross bar of said T-shaped member having openings formed therethrough on opposite sides of said shank in parallelism therewith, said openings being adapted to receive the lugs on said tips.

2. A repair link of the class described having one slotted straight side and having two rounded ends, the tips of which face each other in spaced relationship to form an opening opposite said slotted side, the outer faces of said tips having lugs projecting therefrom in parallelism with each other, said outer faces converging toward the opening between the tips, a closure for said opening consisting of a T-shaped member, the shank of which extends through the space between said tips into said slotted side, means for securing said shank to said slotted side, the underface of said T being substantially perpendicular to the axis of the shank and the outermost ends of said T being in engagement with the outer converging faces, the cross bar of said T-shaped member having openings formed therethrough on opposite sides of said shank in parallelism therewith, said openings being adapted to receive the lugs on said tips.

3. A link for chains and the like, consisting of a link having one closed side and one open side, said open side having lugs projecting therefrom in the plane of the link and normal to the line of pull, a closure member for closing the open side of said link, said closure member having openings therethrough adapted to receive said lugs, said closure member having a web-portion projecting through openings in opposite sides of the link, and a pin insertable through aligned apertures in the walls of the closed side of the link and through said web portion to retain the closure member in position.

4. A link for chains and the like, consisting of a link having one closed side and one open side, said open side having lugs projecting therefrom in the plane of the link and normal to the line of pull, a closure member for closing the open side of said link, said closure member having openings therethrough adapted to receive said lugs, said closure member having a web portion projecting through said opening and engaging the opposite side of the link, and fastening means insertable through the walls of the closed side of the link and through said web portion to retain the closure member in position.

BROWN E. BARNES. 

